Navy Arms 1766 Charleville

[tj hill]

Hello all,
I have recently picked up a reproduction 1766 Charleville musket. I got it second hand from a gentleman for a very fair price who used it solely as a wall hanger. It is of very solid and heavy construction and appears to be in firing order.
The only problem is. The only markings on it (as far as manufactures marks) is NAVYARMS CO. RIDGEFIELD N.J. 1248. There are no proofs ,inspectors marks or foriegn manufacturers marks to be found. could this be one of Navy's early repo's possibly something made for the bicentenial? I have had difficulty finding more info from Navy or Dixie. any in-put from you folks would be much apreciated.

 

[Cosmoline]

I thought they were Pedersoli made for Navy Arms. But the Italians would have at least some kind of proof marks I expect.

 

[robhof]

robhof

Check under the barrel, alot of the early Italian and Spanish repro's were kind enough or were contracted to hide their info by the importers.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

He's right, unship the barrel, and look around the breech area. The proof marks should be there.

LD

 

[jimc00]

Manufacturer

The Charleville's were made in Japan by Miruku. The 1861? Springfields were made there too.

The first Springfields were a disaster. The bores were close to 60 caliber and they had a screw on breech that had an oversized cavity for the Minie ball and the stocks had the wrong contour. The Charleville production was more closely monitored and they were much better.

 

[StrawHat]

Ask the gent when he bought it. I believe the Japanese models were made after the Bi-Centennial. I have a Navy Arms Charleville I got back in the early 70s and I think it is an Italian copy. It shoots a patched dround ball quite nicely and has accounted for a couple of game animals.

 

[jimc00]

All of the Charlevilles were made in Japan. The early ones were not marked with the country of origin.
All of the American made Brown Besses had walnut, cherry or maple stocks, The Morse rifles were cherry IIRC, the Italian gunshad european "walnut which was ok. All of the miruku guns had a softer stock that resembles mahogany.